Aortic Valve Regurgitation

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Aortic valve regurgitation

Aortic valve regurgitation is a condition that occurs when your heart's aortic valve doesn't close tightly. Aortic valve regurgitation can develop suddenly or over decades. Once aortic valve regurgitation becomes severe, surgery is often required to repair or replace the aortic valve. The volume and pressure of blood in the left ventricle may increase. As a result, the heart may have to do more work to compensate. Eventually, the heart maybe unable to meet the body’s need for blood, leading to heart failure. Aortic regurgitation can also cause the aorta to bulge or have weak spots susceptible to aortic aneurysm.

Symptoms

Mild aortic regurgitation produces no symptoms other than a characteristic heart murmur that can be heard with the stethoscope each time the left ventricle relaxes. Over time, the back-up and resulting changes to the heart as it compensates can lead to heart failure. Shortness of breath, most often when you are active. A feeling that your heart is pounding, racing, or beating unevenly.

Statistics

The prevalence in the Italy of any valve regurgitation disease is 2.7%. Of those with valve disease about 0.85% has Aortic valve regurgitation. The prevalence of moderate or severe Aortic valve regurgitation in patients more than 65 years old is 3.1%. It is the most common valvular heart disease of the elderly and increases with age. The prevalence is 2.2% at age 75 years and 8.1% at 85 years.